Finally, Some Stability With the Severans

After the short-reigned Emperors Pertinax (son of a freedman) and Didius Julianus, the next emperor was Septimius Severus, first of the so-called soldier emperors and the first in a short-lived dynasty.

Septimius Severus was born in Africa, at Leptis Magna, on April 11, 145, and died in Britain, on February 4, 211, after reigning for 18 years as Emperor of Rome. He came to power by disposing of rivals with a better claim to power than his own. Septimius Severus died peacefully, leaving, as joint successors, his sons Caracella and Geta.

Profile of Septimius Severus
The Severan Emperors

Ancient Historians

Sources on the period include the Historia Augusta, Herodian, and Dio Cassius.

Previous

• 1
• 2
• 3

Next